drop tune debate

Clarky

I was chatting with some mates the other day and the topic of drop tuning came up..

one of the guys said his bassist preferred to remain standard tuned [5-string bass] and the other said his bassist drop tuned just the same as the guitars..

made me wonder.. what's the general preference amongst you bassist types??

randomhandclaps

I would argue (and have experienced when recording bands who do not drop tune to the same tuning) that due to temperament, tuning and harmonies can present minor issues.  Whether you or the listener can hear these is highly debatable and as it occurs across most mixing of instruments. Whether it is acceptable, better or worse is open to debate or taste - like any other aspect of musical preference.

From a physics perspective undoubtedly the argument is that they should be tuned the same.  Real world audibility though is a totally different thing. 

Drew_TNBD

Drop tune. 5 string basses are gay.

Drew_TNBD

In all seriousness, our 1st bassist played 4 string. Our 2nd bassist plays 5 string. Our 2nd bassist has to make a lot more difficult stretches to reach the notes, and his tone is very strange. The tonality of an open note versus a fretted note is markedly different, and in a drone post-metal band it makes a big difference.

If you're just playing blues, might as well use a skin flute.

fretmeister

I play 4 and 5 strings.

Whatever the guitarist is tuned to, I tune the same. At least for Standard interval or Drop D type tunings.

If their "E" is actually tuned down to B, then my low B string is F#

monquixote

I always prefer to use a five and keep to the same tuning. The only exception is if it results in weird stretches

ICBM

I use an octave pedal.

My bass has been tuned the same since 1986. Anything else would confuse me.

I have one of those Hipshot D-Tuner machineheads somewhere, but I've never fitted it to one of my basses.

chrispy108

Drop-tune.

I prefer 4s to 5s, and playing the stuff I used to (melodic death metal - guitars to Drop C), the open Low C was used so much it would have been impossible to play on a 5 string tuned to B.

EricTheWeary

I have occasionally stumbled upon bassists (in mags/ online)using a 4 string but strung with the bottom 4 off a 5 set ( ie BEAD ) and that seemed to make sense to me.

Drew_TNBD

CGCF is what I'm tuned to. It feels natural.

monquixote

If the band I was in played in drop c all the time I would do the same but for one song I'll stay as I am.

Clarky

in the DC Band, I'm tuned to D-standard and our bassist tunes concert [6-string bass - B, E, A, D, G, C]

randomhandclaps

Drew_fx said:

Drop tune. 5 string basses are gay.

Bloody pentapitchhomophobe!

PolarityMan

Match the guitars otherwise you wont be able to phrase the riffs the same, if I had a 5 string I would drop tune it and then have the bottom string a fifth below I reckon. It would be kinda handy to have available the tone below the bottom note on the guitars every now and then but its essential that the open strings match.

Paul_C

I don't like the extra bulk and fingerboard width of a five, so I have played basses tuned BEAD a few times, I'm back to std. tuning at the moment.